Australian Open 2018, Day 3: Rafael Nadal vs Leonardo Mayer, Live Match Updates

Nadal def Mayer 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(4) to enter R3

Updated: 17 January 2018 14:00 IST - Published: January, 17 2018 09:11 AM IST

And that wraps up our live coverage of this match. Thanks for staying with us.

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Final score: Nadal def Mayer 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(4) to enter R3

The top seed is into the third round! That was some challenge from Mayer towards the very end of the match, but Rafa simply raised his level at the crunch moments!

That's what separates a champion player from the rest!

With an unreturnable serve, the World No. 1 WINS!!!!!

Finally Rafa has a couple of match points!

6-4

Now Mayer gets two points on the trot!

4-5

And a superb wide serve from the top seed!

5-2

Moya on his feet!

And Rafa follows it up with an exceptional backhand down the line

4-2

MINI BREAK

Rafa finds magic through his crosscourt forehand!

3-2

A forehand miss from Mayer

Rafa up 2-1

It's 1-1

Rafa depending on Mayer for the mistakes but the Argentine refuses to miss

And Rafa holds!

We are into a tiebreak!

Can Rafa finish it off here?

Killer forehand from Rafa finds the target down the line again!

3 game points

And Mayer continues to shine!

Service hold for 6-5

BREAK!

What a backhand return from the Argentine!

5-5

And Rafa overhits his forehand!

2nd break point

Rafa saves it with a brilliant serve!

Excellent from Mayer as he finds a brutal crosscourt forehand from the middle of the court.

Break point

Mayer is playing fast and returning early.

Leads 30-15 on the Nadal serve

Rafa finally got his breakthrough and will now serve for the match!

5-4

And it continues to be totally even.

4-4

Mayer ran from side to side and overhit his single handed backhand to let Rafa win the service game.

Even Stevens!

3-3

And Rafa responds brilliantly with his trademark down the line forehand!

Would you believe it?

An inspired Mayer has now amped up his game. With a forehand down the line, he has now earned a break point!

Mayer passes this test of nerves with flying colours!

Still no service breakthrough!

Mayer leads 3-2

Amazing display from Mayer!

A forehand, an ace and a volley to save all 3 bps!

We have the first major moment in this set

3 bps for Nadal

The 2009 champion holds to 15.

Makes the set all level.

2-2

No service breakthrough so far in the first three games of the third set.

Mayer leads 2-1

Mayer was put to a stern test in the opening game of the third set. The Argentine managed to survive.

Leads 1-0 in Set 3

Rafa gets it done in style!

Takes the second set 6-4.

Leads by two sets to love.

And Mayer responds brilliantly.

Holds for 4-5 and that means Rafa will serve to take the set

Comfortable service game from the Spaniard.

5-3

One game away from taking a two sets to love lead

Mayer capitalizes on it and holds!

Nadal leads 4-3

Now Rafa returns the favour with an unforced error.

Deuce

In his urgency, Mayer sends the ball into the tramlines and it is break point to Rafa.

The Rod Laver Arena is half engulfed by shadows as evening approaches in Melbourne. But Rafa is still lighting up the court with his trademark groundstrokes.

Up 4-2

Mayer held and it's a 3-2 advantage for Rafa

Rafa inches ahead to 3-1

What resilience from Mayer!

Stubbornly held off Rafa after struggling initially on serve.

Trails 1-2

Rafa consolidates the break for a 2-0 lead

BREAK

And that first set was all Rafa needed to get his confidence and settle into this match.

And a confident Bull is doubly dangerous as he holds you by the scruff of your neck and makes you submit!

He does exactly that as he breaks to start Set 2.

1-0

Rafa squandered one set point on his own serve, but successfully converted his second.

Rafa wraps the first set 6-3

And Mayer gets his reward in the end!

Gets to hold!

Trails 3-5

Yet another set point has come and gone after Mayer found a ferocious crosscourt forehand

Excellent play by Mayer!

He made Rafa move from side to side and finished with a volley deep into the corner. That made him save three set points!

Deuce

Mayer could not keep his unforced errors at bay after that and allowed Rafa to bag the game.

Rafa leads 5-2

Mayer made it 2-4 and is now upping the pressure on the Nadal serve.

30-30

Mayer had his chances in the very next game as he got a couple of break points.

Rafa seemed to be pretty error-prone and even overhit a dropshot.

But Rafa came through when it mattered the most.

Saving both the break points, he held on and now leads 4-1

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